ENVS 242 - Urban Ecosystem Ecology

Urban ecosystems represents approximately 2% of all available land, yet they house more than 50% of the world’s population. The ecology of urban ecosystems, therefore, is shaped by the interaction between human activity and the natural system. Cities are in part responsible for the environmental burden of air pollution, water waste, and land use change that can take place both within and outside the urban center. This course explores spatial and temporal connotations of both the physical components of urban areas, their functions and processes, as well as the social fabric of cities, with particular focus on environmental justice and social inequities. Cities are essential for a sustainable future and the study of urban ecology is critical to offer solution to pressing socio-environmental issues.

Cross-listed with EJST 242
4 credits